Gang members on parole or on probation checked on in Fresno County operation

FRESNO COUNTY, California (KSEE/KGPE) — Fresno County’s gang enforcement unit checked on dozens of gang members all on probation or parole as part of its latest Goldstar Operation. The goal: make sure those criminals aren’t committing more crimes.

The operation is put on by Fresno County’s Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium, or MAGEC unit. As its name implies, it’s a partnership between multiple Fresno County law enforcement agencies that specifically target gang activity.

For one group part of Saturday’s Goldstar Operation, the first visit around 3 p.m. resulted in an arrest. For around 45 minutes, officers tried to get a man to come out of his room in a Selma home.

After a K9 officer was deployed, the man came out of his room — he ultimately was arrested for violating his probation and resisting arrest.

Hours later at a home northwest of Easton, a parolee was arrested after drugs, ammunition and a rifle were found at the home he was staying at.

Violators like them are what makes Goldstar Operations so important, according to Fresno Police Department and MAGEC detective Curtis Davis. They help get those who re-offend back behind bars.

Davis adds with all visits, use of force is avoided at all costs, but it will be used if necessary. In the parolee visit we mentioned, the parolee’s brother was pinned to the ground after he got combative with officers.

“We’ll give verbal announcements to identify us as a law enforcement agency and we also are going to knock on the door [and] on the window,” Davis said.

In Saturday’s operation, communities in southern Fresno County were specifically targeted. Lt. Arley Terrence with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, said with not as much law enforcement in these parts some offenders can slip through the cracks.

There is a multi-agency team — called the Adult Compliance Team, or ACT — that checks on those on probation and parolees in Fresno County. However, they can only cover so much ground at a given time — Goldstar Operations help fill the gap.

Not all visits end up in handcuffs, which still helps benefit MAGEC in the end.

“It lets us know the ones that are…complying with their probation and parole,” said Terrence. “[Learning that helps us know] we can concentrate elsewhere.”

Saturday’s operation began at 3 p.m. and wraps Sunday at midnight.

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